Cartridge-loading machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. B. RICHARDSON.

1 CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINE.

No. 288,740. Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. B. RICHARDSON.

CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINE. No. 288,740. Patented Nov. 20, 1883.

. siren STATES PATENT @rrren.

JONATHAN l3. RICHARDSON, OF MOUNTAIN YIEXV, GALIFORXIA.

CARTRIDGE-LOADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,740, dated November20, 1883.

Application filed May17, 1883.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, J ONATHAN B. RICHARD- soN, of Mountai 11 View,county of Santa Clara, State of California, have invented an lmprovedCartridge-Loading Machine; and I hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a new and useful cartridge-loading machine; andit consists in the means for receiving and supporting the shell, and inthe means for charging it with powder, wads, and shot, which willhereinafter be fully explained.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective machinefor loading cartridges.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is aperspective view of my cartridgeloading machine, showing the powder-tubeG lowered into a cartridge-shell, I). Fig. 2 is a side elevation,showing the powder tube G raised out of the shell I). Fig. 3 is a frontelevation.

A is the bed-plate, by which the machine is secured to the edge of astand or table, B. To the forward edge of this is secured or formed asocket, a, from which a concave arm, I), extends downwardly. In thissocket are secured spring arms or strips 0, upon the projecting ends ofwhich the shell D is fitted, and is held in place by a swinging arm, E,which is hinged to the concave arm 6, and is held up under the shell byone of the hands of the operator. The arm I), being concave, serves as aguide or support for the shell when in place. From the top of socket c,on its outer side, extends a guide, (I.

F is the wad-tube, supported from the bed plate A by an arm, c. Itslower edge is held abovethe plate a sut'licient distance to allow a wadto pass from under.

G is a tube, which serves the purpose both of a rammer and of apowderconveyer. This tube is reciproea-ted vertically by means ofthehandle H. It is mounted in guides f, secured to the wad-tube, and isin a vertical line over the socket a, so that it may descend into theshell.

I is the powdenhopper secured upon top of the tube G.

J is the shot-hopper, having a neck, 9', which (No model.)

is connected with and opens into the socket (1 below its top, andbetween the open sides of the spring-strips.

To the powder-tube G, about midway, is so cured the common cut-offdevice, consisting of the pivoted lever 1, having upper and lowerstop-plates, g, respectively moving into and out of the tube throughslits therein. The spring of this lever 9 holds the lower stopplatenormally within the tube, so that the powder rests uponit.

To the center of the lever gis secured alug, 71 which, when the tube Gis forced down, comes in contact with a projecting arm, h, upon thewad-tube. This contact forces the lug it up, vibrates the lever g,withdraws its lower plate, to allow the powder to run down, and throwsin its upper plate to cut the powder olf.

Pivoted to the top of one side of the wadtubeis the wad-arm K, the lowerend,7.:, ot'which is turned at right angles and fits under the wad-tube.A spring, 1 holds the end 7.: normally under the wad-tube, with its edgeagainst and on the same horizontal plane as the top of the socket u. Theupper forward edge of the wad-arm K is formed as a cam or inclinedplane, upon and against which a lug, Z, secured to the powder-tube Gtravels. As the powdertube d scends, its lug Z forces back th wadarm K,a d causes its lO G end I; to with draw from under the wad-tube. A wadth falls down from said tube and rests upon the bed-plate A. \Vhen thepowder-tube rises, the wad-arm is returned by its springs, and forcesthe wad over the socket in position under the powder-tube or rammer,when next it is forced down.

In the neck j of the shot-hopper is a cut-off device similar, to thatshown on the powdertube. It consists of the vibrating spring-lever or,having stop-plates m on, working through slit-S in the neck. \Viththelower end of lover or is connected a chain or cord, 11, the upper end ofwhich is secured to the handle H.

The operation of my machine is as follows: The shell is fitted under thesocket a upon the spring-strips c, which serve to hold it. The left handgrasps the swinging arm E, and presses it tightly up against the bottomof the shell, in order to resist the thrust of the-rammer in loading,Fig. 1. The right hand grasps the handle H, and forces down thepowdertube, which descends through the socket a and enters the shell.When the lug h comes in contact with the arm h, the charge of powder Iruns down through the tube G into the shell.

As the tube descends, the wad-arm K is forced back by the lug Z, and awad lies on the plate A. Then the tube G is raised, and when it reachesa point above socket to the wad-arm, being released from the lug Z, isreturned by its spring 13, to force the wad over the socket a. The tubeG, now serving as a rammer, is again forced down, and drives the wadhome, but on account of the charge of powder and the wad being in theshell, the tube cannot descend far enough this time to cause theengagement of its cut-off mechanism with the arm h, thus avoiding afresh charge of powder. Now, as it is customary to place two wads overthe powder, I again raise the tube G, and upon the downstroke drive asecond wad home. This is the advantage in this machine. As thesucceeding steps do not take place until the shell is fully prepared toreceive their operations, I may, by reciprocating the tube G, drive downone, two, or more wads, as I may desire. Then the tube is raised highenough to draw on the chain a, which raises the lever m and allows thecharge of shot to pass into the shell. The tube in being thus raisedwill of course allow another wad to be forced to position over thesocket a,- but as the neck of the shot-hopper enters below the top ofthe socket the shotcharge passes in without interfering with said wad.The downward movement of the tube G forces this wad to its place on theshot, and then, by releasing the supporting-arm E, the loaded cartridgeis forced off its spring-holder.

The machine is simple in construction and effective in operation, beingat the same time light enough to be readily transportable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cartridge-loading machine, the bedplate A, having a socket, a,and an arm, I), in combination with the spring-holder c, for receivingthe shell, and the swinging arm E, for supporting it and resisting thethrust in the loading process, substantially as herein described.

2. In a cartridge-loading machine, the bedplate A, having securedthereto a means for holding and supporting the shell, in combinationwith the reciprocating powdertube and rammer G, the lower end of whichenters the shell, and a means for automatically releasing a charge ofpowder from said tube when in the shell, substantially as hereindescribed.

3. In a cartridge-loading machine, the bed plate A, and a means forholdingand supporting the shell, in combination with the re ciprocatingpowder-tube and rammer G, and

the means for releasing the charge of powder, consisting of thevibrating lever having stop-plates y g, and provided with a lug, h,projecting at right angles from its rear, and the arm h, adapted to bestruck by the lug 71, substantially as herein described.

4. In a cartridge-loading machine, the bedplate' A, having socket a, thespring-holder c, and swinging arm E, for receiving and supporting theshell, in combination with the reciprocating powder-tube and rammer G,having powder-hopper I on its top, and handle H, and the means forreleasing its charge of powder, consisting of the vibrating lever havingstop-plates g and providedwith lug h, projecting at right angles fromits rear, and the arm h, adapted to be struck by the lug h,substantially as herein described.

5. In a cartridge-loading machine, the bedplate A, having a means forreceiving and supporting the shell, in combination with thereciprocating powder tube and rammer G, having a means for automaticallydischarging a powder-charge into the shell, and the wadtube F, supportedfrom and raised above the bed-plate, the pivoted spring-arm K, having acam or inclined edge and end, k, forcing a wad from under the wad-tubeto a position over the shell, and drawn back by a lug, Z, 011 thereciprocating tube G, traveling against the cam-edge of the arm K,substantially as herein described.

6. In a cartridge-loading machine, the bed plate A, having socket a,spring-holder c, and a means for supporting the shell, in combinationwith the reciprocating powder-tube and rammer G, having a lug, l, and ameans for discharging a powder-charge within the shell, consisting ofthe vibrating lever g and stopplates g 9 and provided with the lug h,projecting at right angles from its rear, and arm h, adapted to bestruck by the lug h, the wadtube F, and the swinging pivoted wad-arm K,having end It, and operated by a spring, 1', to force the wad over thesocket a, and by the lug Z on the powder-tube to withdraw its end fromunder the wad-tube, substantially as herein described.

7. In a cartridge-loading machine, the bedplate A, having socket a, anda means for holding the shell thereunder, in combination with theshot-hopper J, having a neck, j, entering the socket a, thereciprocating powdertube and rammer G, and the means for releasing thecharge of shot, consisting of the vibrating lever m, stop-plates m m andchain a, connected with the lever m, and with the reciprocatingpowder-tube G, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand.

JONATHAN B. RICHARDSON.

Vitnesses:

JONATHAN RICHARDSON, W. A. Woonrs.

